Numa Pass Trail

Numa Pass Trail is a 5.5 km (3.4 mi) out-and-back from Floe Lake Campground to the broad saddle of Numa Pass, about 2,340 m high. The saddle sits 2.8 km one way from camp; the climb gains roughly 310 m. Plan on about 2 to 2.5 hours, with extra time for the view. This is a backcountry side trip for hikers already at Floe Lake, not a short roadside walk. The payoff is an open alpine pass with a view back toward Floe Lake and the Rockwall. If your trip already includes the campground, this adds a high pass without committing to the longer Rockwall traverse.

Reach the trailhead on foot from the Floe Lake parking lot off Highway 93 South, following the separate Floe Lake Trail. The 5.5 km here begins at the campground and excludes that long backcountry approach; hiking all the way from the highway to the pass and back is a full-day outing of more than 26 km. Parks Canada requires a backcountry permit for overnight travel and advance reservations for Floe Lake Campground in the main summer season. A valid park entry pass is also required. The campground has tent pads, an outhouse and wildlife-safe food storage, but no food service.

Leave camp on the marked trail. The first stretch runs through pine and larch forest for about 1.5 km; then the trees thin and a larch valley opens beneath the surrounding peaks. From there the route climbs onto an alpine ridge and traverses to the saddle between Numa Mountain and Forest Peak. The upper ground is exposed and can be rocky or muddy, with snow on the high slopes in shoulder seasons. Expect the climb in reverse on the way back. This route ends at Numa Pass; it does not include the continuation toward Numa Creek or the longer Rockwall through-route.

Numa Pass is a broad, treeless saddle rather than a sharp summit. At about 2,340 m, it is the highest point on the Rockwall Trail. Look south to Floe Lake and Floe Peak, then around the surrounding high peaks along the Rockwall. The open ridge makes the lake look far below. For a phone photo, frame Floe Lake and Floe Peak beneath you, with a little of the ridge or trail in the lower edge to show the height and the way you came.

The larch valley is often golden in late September, while mid-July can bring wildflowers; timing varies by year. Parks Canada recommends the Rockwall from mid-July to early October and notes that higher passes may stay snowbound until early to mid-July. Autumn snowfall can make the high sections difficult in late September or October. Check the trail report before heading in, and keep to the marked path when snow obscures the tread.

Treat any surface water before drinking. Dogs are allowed on this route but must stay leashed, and hikers should remain on designated trails and viewpoints. The campground is the only food and toilet stop at the start; there is no service along the pass itself.